CHINA: Audi E5 Sportback, Voyah Dream MPV & BYD Seal 07 | 17 Sep 2025

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Welcome to EV News China, the podcast dedicated to the world's largest electric vehicle market.

Each day we bring you the latest headlines, expert insights and analysis from the heart of China's booming EV industry

and reveal how these developments are shaping the global EV landscape.

We'll kick off with news of a big first order day of the Audi E5 Sportback

drawing over 10,000 orders in the first half an hour of launch,

its entry price at about US$33,000 equivalent well below direct rivals, the NEO E5 Touring,

Zika's 007 GT and the new Stilato S90.

Built exclusively for China, the five-seat Fastback introduces a region-first brand identity.

It's got a sleek 0.252 drag coefficient, micro laser-cut LED lighting inspired by classic Audi models.

The lineup spans rear wheel and all-wheel drive, outputs from 220 kilowatts up to 579 kilowatts

and a quickest 0-62 miles an hour time of 3.4 seconds.

Buyers choose from three battery packs using LFP or NCM chemistries

with ranges up to 773 kilometers on CLTC.

Fast charging can restore 370 kilometers of range in 10 minutes,

underscoring Audi's push to be known for long-distance usability.

High trims add the adaptive air suspension and roof-mounted LiDAR,

supporting 27 driver-assist sensors powered by Memento's AI suite.

Inside, there's a 59-inch digital interface running Audi OS,

in case you think that's a typo, 59 inches, no, no, that's a six-foot across the front of the car.

Yes, I'll get onto that.

It's paired with Bose Audio, multi-zone voice control, Apple CarPlay and Huawei's Hi-Car.

So, the cabin uses what Audi call an ultra-wide display.

It's just the entire dashboard is glass.

So, you've got your fully digital instrument cluster, you've got your central control screen,

you've got the passenger entertainment screen, which is increasingly popular in Chinese cars,

and you have what are called ear flaps, which is on either side of the screen.

Well, that's the displays for the electronic side mirrors, which are obviously no longer mirrors

because they're cameras, but we still call them side mirrors.

And so, the whole thing just displays information, but the two outer parts are the screens to look backwards.

The vehicle on Audi OS with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 cabin chip,

in-car Audi Assistant is customised on Volcano Engine's large language model called Dubin,

providing semantic understanding, multi-round dialogue, vehicle control interaction.

Launched under Audi's new Audi brand with SAIC, the E5 Sportback,

reflects a shift towards a China-first strategy prioritising advanced connectivity,

tailored branding and competitive pricing to try and recover Audi's market share

in the country's fast-growing premium EV market.

Now, Akara told you about yesterday, I think it was an MPV, not so much a car,

but that's the Voya Dream MPV, Minivan People Carrier.

Made a really strong entrance yesterday into China's premium Minivan market.

Again, over 10,000 confirmed firm orders placed in the first 18 hours of its launch this week,

more than half for its Ultra Edition.

The model combines eight variants, there's five plug-in hybrids, there's three pure bevs,

starting at 329,000 RMB, up to 440,000.

Ultra Trims showcase the Huawei Harmony Space 5 smart cabin,

an ADS-4 driver assistance usually seen in flagship sedans and SUVs.

It has a 29-inch augmented reality head-up display, zero gravity seats in the second row,

heating-cooling massage, positioning it as a Voya's tech-luxury focus,

but also explaining why the plug-in hybrid versions have resonated,

because this could be used for, I don't know, airport transfer runs

or people who want to sit in the back but do long journeys.

Competition remains strong.

Denzer's D9 delivered over 100,000 units annually,

Lee Auto's Mega secured up to 35% of the high-end MPV segment over the summer,

and Zika's 009 emphasises high tech compared to the likes of Tesla and BYD.

The dream, though, from Voya does have momentum

with last year's Huawei-led refresh pushing total sales now to 85,500 units.

The new 2026 BYD Seal 07 DMI, that's what they use for their E-Revs cars with engines,

arrives with big upgrades in range, performance, same pricing,

and positioning it very strongly against rivals in sedans and hybrid markets.

So the new updated and upgraded BYD Seal 07 DMI has two battery choices.

It's now 17.6 kilowatt-hours, they say 135 kilometres electric range,

or a 30 kilowatt-hour pack for 230 kilometres,

both using the Blade Battery Electric Only range as doubles compared with the outgoing version.

All trims now benefit from the higher-range powertrains once reserved for the flagship models.

Even with these gains, the top variant has actually had a price reduction,

and it's brutal in China.

Performance has improved. The base trim combines the 1.5-litre engine with a 160 kilowatt motor,

0-62 miles an hour, 8 seconds.

Higher trims add the same engine, a 200 kilowatt motor for a 7-second 0-60.

The car has a slightly longer, wider stance, still 2.9-metre wheelbase.

Inside you get the new clean display from BYD with a 10.25-inch driver's display,

a 15.6-inch really big infotainment screen.

Only the entry-level model skips the advanced chassis control,

while driver assistance systems, depending on the spec you go for,

go everything from Dipilot 100 with God's IC to Dipilot 300 with a LiDAR on the range topper.

August sales for BYD and the seals have been rising.

August sales 15% over the summer up, totaling more than 53,000 units,

making the Seal lineup BYD's bestseller for the first time.

These results, alongside the launch of the European Seagull production

and the 1-megawatt chargers in Europe, highlight how BYD is reshaping perhaps our expectations

for what we expect for range and charging at this price point.

Very affordable.

Talking BYD, they've also upgraded their Tang DMI, again, plug-in hybrid,

but the Tang is the SUV, replacing the variants that are 115km with 175km range.

Again, very competitive pricing, starting at $179,000 RMB, which is about $25,000 USD equivalent.

The Tang DMI, one of the most affordable, large plug-in hybrids with long range.

So, they use the new 26.6kWh blade battery in this,

53kW DC fast charging on that, 20 minutes stops and you're off and away again.

If you do need to dip into the engine, they give the total number of 1,240km,

as a lot of the Chinese marketing tends to do, give that big number.

Inside the Tang DMI comes with the Dialink 400 system with voice functions,

3D gesture control, even built-in karaoke, but no supplied microphone on this one.

There's a fridge which adds convenient heating and cooling, all the way down to minus 6°C

and up to 50°C.

You either get the Godside B system with LiDAR, 30 sensors, or the Godside C system.

With over 838,000 Tang SUVs sold to date,

making up over 3.5% of BYD's business from the Tang lineup in 2024,

making the vehicles better, longer range, more tech-rich,

strengthens BYD's position in the competitive EREV market.

Now, let's talk a little bit about the Buick Electra L7.

The L7 targets the premium EREV segment with a blend of long-distance ability, luxury and tech.

Using General Motors' Altium platform, the Electra L7 is an SUV.

40 kilowatt-hour pack and a 252 kilowatt motor.

On top of the engine, they give a total range of 1,420 miles, which is double the segment norm.

Pure electric, over 300 kilometres. Again, it's a 40 kilowatt-hour pack.

You can do nearly everything on the battery.

At which points? I'll say it again.

Why do you have the engine?

Inside, Buick is all about comfort and tech.

A 50-inch augmented reality head-up display,

15.6-inch infotainment display, Napa leather,

zero-gravity reclining seats, 27-speaker immersive system

with headrest sound and noise cancelling.

Practical details such as the Shi wireless charging system,

advanced ADAS, again from Mementa, the Qualcomm SA8775P chip.

So, very connected, very future-ready.

It's a premium vehicle, starting at 42,000 US equivalent.

That's 300,000 RMB.

But for early buyers, they're offering lifetime maintenance.

The Electra L7 enters a shifting market with BEVs growing year-on-year.

E-REVs are growing but not as quick as pure BEVs in China.

But they all seem to want to have something in their arsenal,

in their locker, in their line-up that is E-REV or plug-in hybrid.

Buick is betting that the combination of the big range number,

really fast charging on that battery,

also being a more upscale vehicle,

does the business for them in terms of their sales targets.

All right, let's move on and talk about IM Motors.

IM Motors, part of SAIC, we've just got two IMs over here,

the five and the six that sit down in the SUV.

They're sold as MGs.

Well, they're sold as AMs, but they're sold from MG.

They're under real pressure in China from the parent company, SAIC,

because they have a joint venture elsewhere with Huawei.

It's called Shanji, and that's gaining loads of momentum.

But IM insists that it is SAIC's flagship brand.

The company's marketing chief reaffirming that IM is the group's top end product,

even as Shanji's H5 has been surpassing 100,000 reservations, I think.

In the first eight months of the year, from January to the end of August,

IM sold 32,000 vehicles, August about 6,570,

far below the 100,000 target that it was set for this year.

More than half of the sales come from the LS6,

which gained new extended range versions recently,

priced under 200,000 yuan after a big 40,000 yuan price reduction.

The brand plans to launch the LS9, the big SUV, in the fourth quarter.

The shift towards EREVs in China reflects a broader market trend

with nearly 20 new models introduced in the segment by competitors in 2025 so far.

IM positions the LS6, apart from Shanji's H5,

by targeting different customer groups,

maintaining confidence that it has a new refreshed lineup

that will help it be the golden boy at the top end of SAIC's portfolio.

Now, we have a vehicle to talk about that we mentioned yesterday,

the Stilato S9T, and more on the podcast today.

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If you're the purchasing manager at a manufacturing plant,

you know having a trusted partner makes all the difference.

That's why hands down you count on Granger for auto-reordering.

With on-time restocks, your team will have the cut-resistant gloves

they need at the start of their shift.

And you can end your day knowing they've got safety well in hand.

Call 1-800-GRANGER, click Granger.com or just stop by.

Granger for the ones who get it done.

OK, welcome back to the podcast.

Now, I mentioned the Stilato S9T station wagon.

Man, some of the design coming out of we call it estates, wagons,

however you describe those calls, these cars,

some of them look really premium.

Stilato is the Huawei BAIC joint brand.

They launched the S9T station wagon, a 310,000 RMB,

about 20,000 below presale.

Very common thing in China, by the way,

that they put a price out for presale

and they always try and bring it under when it goes on sale a little bit.

It gets positive press and it exceeds expectations.

In the first hour, 5,000 confirmed orders placed.

Delivery start in four days time on September 21st.

So little reminder, S9T has the sedan's length,

5.16 metres and the 3.05 metre wheelbase.

It's a little wider, it's a little higher

and obviously a lot more cargo because it's the estate version.

660 litres or 1,700 litres with the seats down.

It's got a nice frunk in the front as well

with what they call the double tap knock knock opener.

Cool, four models available.

Two bevs, two E revs.

The bevs start at 330,000 RMB, rear wheel drive,

you can get an all wheel drive version.

So base spec, 227 kilowatt motor,

not very base spec if you ask me

because that'll do 0-60 in 5.9 seconds.

All wheel drive adds another 160 kilowatts on the front axle

and gets you below 4 seconds, 0-60.

They've got a 100 kilowatt hour pack in Huawei brand,

the Giant Whale battery

and that's 801 kilometres CLTC on the rear wheel drive,

a little bit less on the all wheel drive.

The E revs, meanwhile, aren't skimping

53.4 kilowatt hour battery.

354 miles, sorry, kilometres,

electric range on CLTC.

Technology highlights, ADS-4,

driver assistance, advanced LiDAR,

Harmony Space 5 cockpit

with three screens, digital LED headlights

and 5,000 confirmed orders,

20,000 reservations total.

The S9T strengthens Stilato's presence

in the Chinese EV market

and like I say, the wagon version is state,

whatever you want to call it.

It's such a looker.

They've obviously got it.

It looks in places a little bit Genesis-y

and that's okay, look, I like, it's all subjective, obviously.

I think that the Genesis styling is pretty sweet.

But also, look, this is very much Audi A6 Avant.

This is very Audi-y state.

However, it's loaded with tech.

From the front, by the way, it's a little bit

a Taycan Turismo look.

It's got, obviously, it's got a longer boot

and a higher roof line, but it slopes,

it starts to slope down towards the end.

So a little bit Taycan-y.

These cars, look, amazing.

No secret, a lot of the Chinese companies

went out with their checkbooks

and have hired designers or people

who had previously had a design

at big German car makers.

And so, look, again, inside, very premium.

It's got the cameras for wing mirrors.

Can't call the mirrors, they're not mirrors,

but you know what I mean.

So again, two screens inside,

looking a bit like the Honduri, quite implementation,

kind of an angle as well.

So working on Aero, being very premium,

but not at a premium price, of course,

when those vehicles start from so low,

309,800 RMB.

Holy moly.

All right, let's move on

and talk about our next story to date.

And that is about some autonomy stuff, actually.

Hesai Group completed their listing

on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange,

making it the first LiDAR maker

with dual primary listings in the U.S. and Hong Kong.

Shares were up 11%,

valuing the company of 36 billion

on Hong Kong.

Exchange, the listing raised

4 billion Hong Kong,

which is 535 million U.S. dollars.

The largest to date in the LiDAR industry,

around half the proceeds will go to R&D.

35% will be based on,

we spent on production capacity increases.

They've been around 11 years now,

listed on the NASDAQ two years ago.

Hesai operates a factory in Guangzhou

and began mass production two years ago

by using chip-based architecture

and automated systems

that you have brought the LiDAR costs down significantly.

It used to be like $100,000 a vehicle

10 years ago, down to $200 a vehicle.

Like, that's not a typo, right?

Just work out the implications of what I just said.

LiDAR can now be implemented

on millions of vehicles.

Last year, it became the first publicly listed LiDAR firm

to achieve annual profitability

and, again, scale brings down prices.

LiDAR's a really interesting technology

to see what the human eye can't see

and more and more Chinese buyers

in that premium segment

or even the mainstream premium

are insisting on features like this.

Let's talk about fast charging.

We'll finish off by talking about Xiaopang,

X-Peng rolling out its ultra fast charging network

this time in Israel,

marking a new phase for EV infrastructure in the region.

The launch was anchored by public events

and attended by major industry and government figures

showing both commercial ambition

and public policy support.

X-Peng's are equipped with star-charges advanced hardware,

using dynamic power management to keep charge times brisk

but not overloading the grid,

filling most EVs 10 to 80 in under 20 minutes

if the EVs good enough, of course.

The move comes as X-Peng's G6,

G9 and P7 are seeing rapid adoption overseas.

X-Peng delivered 5,076 cars

in total to Israeli customers

this year to the end of August.

So they're really big in the market behind BYD,

only by a few hundred cars as well.

They're almost like the number one Chinese EV maker there.

Zika is rolling out their own

competing rapid charge network offering public access,

quick charge times and targeted pricing incentives.

X-Peng's supplier star-charge integrates grid-friendly

load management to scale up

without overloading the grid.

While the Israeli government supports

EV adoption through incentives,

it changes to public policy and regulatory things

that need clarity and are still shaping the sector's

risk and investment climate.

X-Peng's charging rollout in China,

sometimes with Volkswagen or major oil company partners,

hints at what could come next

for tech transfer from China to overseas markets.

That's your podcast for today.

Hopefully you're liking EV News China.

Thanks for your feedback so far.

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If you're an HVAC technician

and a call comes in, Granger

knows that you need a partner

that helps you find the right product,

fast and hassle-free.

And you know that when the first problem of the day

is a clanking blower motor,

there's no need to break a sweat.

With Grangers easy to use

website and product details,

you're confident you'll soon have everything

humming right along.

Call 1-800-GRANGER, click Granger.com

or just stop by.

Granger, for the ones who get it done.

If you're the purchasing manager

at a manufacturing plant,

you know having a trusted partner

makes all the difference.

That's why hands down, you count on Granger

for auto-reordering.

With on-time restocks,

your team will have the cut-resistant gloves

they need at the start of their shift.

You can end your day knowing they've got safety

well in hand.

Call 1-800-GRANGER, click Granger.com

or just stop by.

Granger, for the ones who get it done.

If you're the purchasing manager

at a manufacturing plant,

you know having a trusted partner

makes all the difference.

That's why hands down, you count on Granger

for auto-reordering.

With on-time restocks,

your team will have the cut-resistant gloves

they need at the start of their shift.

And you can end your day

knowing they've got safety well in hand.

Call 1-800-GRANGER, click Granger.com

or just stop by.

Call 1-800-GRANGER, click Granger.com

or just stop by.

Granger, for the ones who get it done.

CHINA: Audi E5 Sportback, Voyah Dream MPV & BYD Seal 07 | 17 Sep 2025

E5 Audi E5

Volvo S90

Zeekr Zikas 007

D9 Denzers

Zeekr Zikas 009

Byd Seal

Seagull

Audi A6

Porsche Taycan

Xpengs G6

About this episode

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